The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-02-10
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
ROANOKE ISLAND.
Massachusetts Replies to gen. Hawkins, 9th \.
ZOuayes

Massachusetts Replies 60 Gen. Hawkins Sth n u.
ZOuaycs
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
Of Jan. 20 appears an article Of nearly four coli
umns which attempts TO show that the 9tn
n " made the first charge on the battery oI
the enemy at Roanoke Island. In that light
was a Captain in command of Co. A, 2lst Mass
Nv regiment, or four companies OF II, was on
the immediate right Of the battery. The Sec
ond Brigade, led by Gen, Reno IN person,
marched by flank through the swamp toward
the right of the enemy. There, among the
boys oil that swamp, we answered the shots OF
the rebels as well as were able. Our regl-
ment lost 81 men, of whom l3 were Killed or
MORALLY wounded
Several companies of the 51st n. Y. were near
us al that time. it was the continued Firing oil
that gallant regiment together with the DIST
Mass. which drove the Confederates inside
their earthworks for protection Gen. Reno was
at the front of the line. lie said, IN my hear
ing;
"Col. Maggi, can you charge and take that
battery ?n
The reply was, 1--WE can, General"
Then the order was given by Gen. Reno TO
charge. AT this time my company was IN
good position 90 charge We did so, together
with the other companies Of my regiment and
the 5lst n. Y.
Thefr color planted on that battery was the
State Gag of Massachusetts,, carried 10y gallant
Corp'l Ethan Blodgett, Color Bearer Of the DIST
Mass. The next was the u. S. flag of the 5lst
n Y. There was not man of the 9th n. \.
Zouayes inside the battery at the time we made
that charge. They came up IN short time,
but not until the last running rebel was well
out of sight They then came running, shout
ing, "ZOu, Zou," as if they had captured the
fort.
These are the facts, and j can obtain hum
dred men of the DIST Mass. to substantiate 10, If
necessary. COrpl Bodgctt who planted the
first flagstaff ON the works, is living; Charles
+. WalcOtt, az that time Captain OF Co. Is, 2lst
Mass afterward Colonel of the 6lst Mass. and
Breyet Brigadier- General, is ut No. 10 fremont
street, Boston. he will gladly give any infor-
nation required. lie was one Of the first TO
enter the works. Capt. w. r. Harlow. Assist
ant Clerk of Courts of Worcester County, is
living ia Worcester; consult him. Many Others
lcould mention il space would permit. know
nothing OF Will J.. Melch Co. A, 23d Mass.
Gen. Hawkins says the 9th n. Y. had two
Iieutenants and 10 privates wounded the 2lst
Mass had - killed and Al wounded. Among
the wounded were Capt Il. S. Foster, Adjt
Fraser A. Stearns, hit twice; one First Ser
geant and two COrpOras.
Now, ] do not wish TO criticize the valor and
bravery of the 9th N. Y. The following ex-
tract from the New York Commercial Advertiser,
written soon after the battle, may be of inter-
est 70 the Colonel of the 9Th n. Y. After de-
of the 2lst and 5lst into the battery, the
writer said
Hawkinss Zouaves next came dashing over the
ditch and up the side find the works IN the pos
session OF their friends. IL was question OF dis
tance who should arrive first for undoubtedly the
Zouaves would have stormcd the battery at the
point of tle bayonet had the works not been
evacuated.
Gen. c. Reno's (oficiaD report of that fight
says:
T-.oooaoa ~, A., 49, ~ A. Oh, Me-. ,o,,-ora
The enemys right. j ordered charge, which was
most gallanty executed by the Dist Mass, 5lst
n. Y. and 9th n. J. Leut.-Col Maggi's regiment
(2lst Mass captured the flag Of the fort and raised
the first flag.
The writer Of the article speaks of Col
Maggi, of the 2lst Mass, in very insulting
manner Was Col Hawkins with the 2lst
Mass. or in another part of the field where he
belonged Why does he now say that we
charged without ordersl il is not at all a
troublesome proposition for the officers OF
the Dist Mass. 10 explain" We have il in the
official report Of Gen. Reno, who ordered the
charge.
Col. Hawkins attempts to give a reason why
his report Of that days work was not in a
prominent place in the history of the Roanoke
affair. lie says he penciled "on the head of
q barrel on q half sheet Of fOols-cap paper the
carelessy -worded report, and kept no copy"
He says he is possessed of q peculiar tempera-
ment, which often T" leads him TO do or not 20
do and say things that a discreet person would
avoid"
One writer has said that Some of our gal
liant brother regiments, fearing that the wan
would end before there was legitimate glory
enough 10 90 around, made claim 10 honors be-
longing TO other regiments"
The gratuitous aspersion cast upon the
bravery and military duties of Col. Maggi Oh
that occasion is wholly uncalled for and Il
my mind, cruelty unjust. j am certain M
share the honor Of writing such an article with
the unjust and unkind filings at brother Off
GERS who were not a whit behind Col. Haw
kins, Of the 9Th n. Y, in bravery and honor
GEORGE y. HAWKES. Captain, Co. A; afterwart
Lieutenant Colonel, commanding 2lst Mass. 70
Is months, and Breyet Brigadier- General Vol
unteers, TempletOn, Mass